Apparatus and system for handling material

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to apparatus ( 1 ) for handling flow of particulate material from one location such as a first station such as a filling head ( 2 ) attached to an IBC ( 3 ) and a chamber ( 4 ) which is in association with the filling head ( 2 ) by being slidably mounted round an outlet ( 8 ) thereof, the chamber ( 4 ) having an orifice ( 6 ) through which the another station such as an IBC ( 7 ) and the one station ( 23 ) are operatively connected to provide a transfer system for the material ( 8 ). The chamber ( 4 ) has a device ( 9 ) which is operable to remove a closure element ( 10 ) of the IBC ( 7 ). The chamber ( 4 ) also has means ( 11, 12 ) to extract material from the chamber ( 4 ) so that the exterior of the filling head ( 2 ) and IBC ( 7 ) remains in use free of any potentially contaminating material, such as specks of material.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a system for handlingmaterial, particularly the flow of or transfer of a flowable particulatematerial from one station to another.

It is often necessary to transfer material such as powder from onestation which may be a process station or a storage station to anotherlocation such as a point of use or for transport to another location orstation entirely. The one station can be a silo, hopper or the like andthe other station may be an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC). In priorsystems, mating surfaces of the silo and IBC are brought together, therebeing alpha-beta flanges to keep the mating surfaces clean. Like allsuch physical systems there is a limitation in that the fine outer edgeof a transfer valve will often have a fraction of a gramme of powdermaterial or product retained on it after use and thus the next time anIBC is brought into position for a transfer of material from the silo,this trace of product could dislodge and fall onto the top surface ofthe IBC, thereby contaminating it, and therefore potentially thesurrounding environment.

For most applications this tiny amount of product on the bottom edge ofthe transfer valve is well within the acceptable limits of material inthe atmosphere. However, for some industries and sensitive applicationssuch as the secondary pharmaceutical industries where the product maycontain active ingredient, even this tiny level of exposed product andthe risk of it dislodging from a valve onto the top surface of the IBCis not acceptable.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate thisdisadvantage.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatusfor handling flow of flowable particulate material from one station toanother, comprising a chamber adapted for mounting in association withthe one station and having an orifice through which the another stationand the one station are operatively connectible for transfer ofmaterial, there being a device which in one position closes the orificeand which is operable to remove a closure element of the another stationfor transfer, and means to extract material from the chamber, thearrangement being such that particulate material in the chamber isextracted therefrom by the extraction means so that the exterior of thestations remain in use free of the material.

The device may be adapted to engage and lift a closure element of theanother station therefrom. This provides a relatively simple yetefficient apparatus.

The device may have means to lock it to the closure element for liftingthereof. This provides for a safe lift, particularly where the lockingmeans may be a suction means. This construction provides for a positive“in-off” lift.

The suction means may comprise a vacuum means whereby the device and theclosure element may be in use vacuum locked together. The device may bereciprocably movable from the one position to a second position remotefrom the orifice whereby to obturate and expose the orifice.

This provides a compact construction.

The device may be slewible in a plane transverse to a major axis of theorifice to expose the orifice. This, again, provides a compactstructure, and an efficient use of space.

The device may be complementary in shape to the external profile of theclosure element. This construction provides for positive engagement andan efficient lifting of the closure element.

The device may have a concave dished shape in transverse section.

The extraction means may comprise means to admit a flow of cleaning gasinto the chamber. This is an efficient way of removing particles whichbecome entrained in the gas, which may for preference be air which mayprovide a continuous air flow sweep through the chamber.

Alternatively, the extraction means may comprise a suction means such asfor example a fan or fans.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided asystem for transferring flowable particulate material from one stationto another, comprising a first station and a second station havingrespective outlets and inlets which are substantially in line, andapparatus as hereinbefore defined.

The first and second stations may be substantially vertically arrangedand the apparatus may be engaged round the outlet of the first station.This provides for efficient transfer of a material using gravity.

The apparatus may be slidably mounted with respect to the first station.This provides for sealing of the system whilst allowing relativemovement between the respective parts thereof.

There may be means to raise and lower the second station with respect tothe first station. This provides the relative movement, and a relativelysimple, controllable operation, particularly where the means maycomprise a lifting table.

The second station may have a lid comprising a first closure element anda second closure element and the apparatus may be operable to remove andreplace the first closure element for a transfer operation. Thisprovides for containment of material.

The first and second closure elements of the second station may beoperative to close a filling aperture of the second station, the secondclosure element being in use in the aperture.

The second closure element may be supported by a flexible and resilientannular seal member. This is essentially a lip seal which is operativeto retain material in the second station.

The first station may comprise means to obturate and expose the apertureof the second station. This is a relatively simple yet efficientconstruction as the operative parts are self-contained, particularlywhen there may be a device for raising and lowering the second closureelement of the second station.

The device may comprise a suction device, which itself may be raisableand lowerable with a valve device which is operative to obturate andopen the outlet of the first station. As before this constructionprovides a self-contained system.

The valve may comprise a conical or frusto-conical valve device of thefirst station.

The apparatus may comprise a plenum chamber which may enclose the outletand inlet during transfer.

An apparatus and a system embodying the invention, for transfer or flowof a particulate flowable material from one station to another or secondstation are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 13 show schematically in side elevation an operating sequenceduring transfer of material from one station to another using anapparatus and system according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus 1 for handling flowof particulate material from one location such as a first station suchas a filling head 2 attached to a silo or hopper 3 and a chamber 4 whichis in association with the filling head 2 by being slidably mountedround an outlet 5 thereof, the chamber 4 having an orifice 6 throughwhich the another station such as an IBC 7 and the one station 2,3 areoperatively connected to provide a transfer system for the material 8.The chamber 4 has a device 9 which is operable to remove a closureelement 10 of the IBC 7. The chamber 4 also has means 11, 12 to extractmaterial from the chamber 4 so that the exterior of the filling head 2and IBC 7 remains in use free of any potentially contaminatig material,such as specks of material.

The chamber 4 is in the embodiment a closed plenum chamber, the orifice6 being centrally arrangeded, there being an annular seal 13, definingthe orifice with a depending lip 14 of a wall 15 of the chamber 4.

The device 9 which closes the orifice 6 in the one position shown inFIG. 1 is vertically above the seal 13. The device 9 is a lid or traywhich is of concave dish configuration is shown. The device 9 has a seal17. There is a mechanism, not shown, for moving the device 9 as byslewing or rotation to a protective cowl or housing 18 which enclosesthe chamber 4 and which is laterally displaced from the orifice 6. Inorder to provide extraction of air and any extraneous particles from thechamber and in use from the stations, a swirl of cleaning gas in theform of air is provided in the chamber by way of the pipes 11, 12. Thepipe 11 is an inlet pipe and the pipe 12 an outlet pipe, or vice-versa,each one having a nozzle 19 pointing away from the orifice 6 whereby toprovide a toroidal swirl of air in the chamber 9 from inlet nozzle tooutlet nozzle. The pipes 11, 12 also form in the embodiment a guide forthe device 9, which itself has means, in the embodiment a vacuum suctionmeans by which the closure element 10 of the second station or IBC canbe raised from the IBC, the suction means comprising a series ofperipheral holes round the device 9.

The first station 2, 3 comprises the silo or hopper 3 to which issecured as by bolting, the filling head 2 which has the outlet 5 whichis obturated and opened by a valve 20 in the form of for example a conevalve which is raised and lowered by a device such as a bellows 21.Interiorly of the valve 20 is a means 22 for opening and closing theclosure device 10 of the IBC 7. The means 22 in this embodiment of theinvention is a suction device in the form of a vacuum head, however itwill be appreciated that other devices known in the art, such as forexample those functioning by magnet could be used.

The second station or IBC 7 has an inlet 23 which is closed by theclosure device 10 in the form of an outer and inner (as viewed) closureelement 24, 25 above a lid catchment cage 25′. The inner element 25 is aprimary lid and is supported in the inlet in this embodiment of theinvention by a flexible and resilient annular seal, or lip seal 26. Theouter element 24 is a secondary lid and sits on the outer surface of thelip seal 26 and is supported on an upstanding wall 27 defining the inlet23. The outer closure element 24 is of inverted dished shape. The device9 of the chamber is of complementary shape to the shape of the outerclosure element 24.

The central major arm of the orifice 6 and outlet 5 of the first station2, 3 are vertically aligned.

In operation to transfer a flowable particulate material from the firststation (or silo) to the second station 7, the second station 7 isbrought into position below (as viewed in the Figures and as in use) thechamber 4 and the first station 2,3. This action is shown by arrow ‘A’in FIG. 1, the central longitudinal axis of the second station or IBCbeing in line with the central longitudinal or major axis of the siloand plenum chamber. The respective central axes are thus co-linear asshown by the chain dashed line ‘L’ in the Figures.

The IBC 7 is placed on a lift table (not shown) below the apparatuscomprising the first silo and chamber and is raised thereby until itsclosure element, or secondary lid 24, engages in the device 9 of thechamber 4, the respective complementary dish configurations thereofensuring a smooth and snug engagement. The upstanding wall 27 definingthe inlet 23 engages in the orifice or opening 6 in the chamber 4 at thetop of the seal 13 and butts against the free edge of the dependingannular flange 14.

The suction means of the device 9 is actuated to lock the device 9 andsecondary lid 24 firmly together (FIG. 2).

The IBC 7 and the chamber 4 are then lowered together (FIG. 3), aboundary edge of the housing 18 engaging a seal 28 on the outer surfaceof the outlet 5 of the filling-head 2 attached to the silo 3. Thesecondary lid 24 remains locked together with the device 9 and the IBCremains engaged within the chamber aperture 6. The device 9 andsecondary lid 24 forming a unit, are then moved to one side, arrow ‘B’in FIG. 4, as by stewing or rotation, into the protective housing orcowl 18. The main or primary lid 25 of the IBC 7 is thus exposed to theoutlet 5 of the silo which is directly above it. However, during theoperations described, the chamber is swept by a continuous sweep of airflow in a circuit between the pipes 11, 12 and the interior of thechamber 4 so any particulate material is collected in this air flow andextracted, thereby obviating lodging of particles of the material on thelid 25.

The IBC 7 and the chamber 4 are then fully raised (as shown by thearrows ‘C’ in FIG. 5) until it engages the outlet 5 of the silo, theboundary edge of which engages the lip seal 26 supporting the primarylid 25. A jet or jets of air are injected in the direction of the arrow‘D’ in FIG. 5 to ensure that no particles are lodged at the outlet 6.Continued raising of the IBC 7 and chamber 4 ensure full engagement ofthe lip seal 26 and outlet 5, the lip seal 26 flexing to allow thisengagement, the suction means 22 of the outlet 5 of the silo 3 engagingthe primary lid 25 and holding it (FIG. 6)

The cone valve 20 of the silo 3, with the suction head 22 supporting theprimary lid 25 of the IBC 7, is lowered to allow particulate material toflow from the silo through the chamber to the IBC, through an annularopening 29 opened by this action, as shown in FIG. 7. After transfer ofthe desired amount of the material to the IBC, the cone valve 20 isclosed, thereby replacing the primary lid (FIG. 8).

After the transfer of the material, the IBC 7 and chamber 4 are loweredsufficiently for the primary lid 25 to be supported again by the lipseal 26 which flexes to effect the support described. This is shown inFIG. 9. The IBC 7 and plenum chamber 4 are shown fully lowered in FIG.10 (arrows ‘E’, FIG. 9). The device 9 and secondary IBC lid 24 are thenmoved back to be above the inlet of the IBC (arrow ‘F’, FIG. 11).

The IBC 7 is raised enough (arrows ‘G’, FIG. 12) to re-engage thesecondary lid 24, and the vacuum source is de-activated. This releasesthe secondary IBC lid 24 and replaces it on top of the wall 27 of theIBC. The IBC 7 is then lowered (arrows ‘H’, FIG. 13), weight checked,and moved away (arrow ‘I’, FIG. 13). The IBC 7 can be removed with notrace of material on any top surface, and the apparatus 1 is ready foranother sequence of transfer operations, FIG. 13 being equivalent toFIG. 1.

In a further embodiment of the invention, (not illustrated) the silo 3may be provided with a valve 20 which is opened by raising it into thefilling head 2 by known means such as a bellows, rather than loweringit. The illustrated sequence of events for this embodiment is similar tothat for the previous embodiment, except that when the apparatus is inthe position shown in FIG. 6, with the suction head 22 engaged on theprimary lid 25 and holding it, the valve 20 is raised, rather thanlowered as it is in FIG. 7. The device 22, plus primary lid 25 is thusraised clear of the seal 26 allowing product to flow. The device 22 canbe modified if necessary to move upwards independently of the valve 20,and the primary lid 25 can be seated on the lip of the IBC rather thanon the lip seal 26, with the provision of suitable seal means therearound.

Thus using an apparatus 1 and system as shown herein and described withreference to the drawings, any dislodged material falling into theplenum chamber will be swept to extraction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for transferring flowable particulatematerial from one station to another, comprising a first station and asecond station having respective outlets and inlets which aresubstantially in line, and apparatus for handling flow of the flowableparticulate material from the first station to the second stationinterposed therebetween, said apparatus comprising a chamber adapted formounting in association with the first station and having an orificethrough which the second station and the first station are operativelyconnectable for transfer of material, there being a device which in oneposition closes the orifice and which is operable to remove a closureelement of the second station and there being means to extract materialfrom the chamber, the arrangement being such that particulate materialin the chamber is extracted therefrom by the extraction means so thatthe exterior of the stations remains, in use, free of the material, thesecond station having a lid comprising a first closure element and asecond closure element, the apparatus being operable to remove andreplace the first closure element for a transfer operation.
 2. A systemaccording to claim 1, the first and second closure elements of thesecond station being operative to close a filling aperture of the secondstation, the second closure element being, in use, in the aperture.
 3. Asystem according to claim 2, the second closure element being supportedby a flexible and resilient annular seal member.
 4. A system accordingto claim 3, the first station comprising means to obturate and exposethe aperture of the second station.
 5. A system according to claim 4,comprising a device for raising and lowering the second closure elementof the second station.
 6. A system according to claim 5, the raising andlowering device comprising a suction device.
 7. A system according toclaim 6, the suction device being raisable and lowerable with a valvedevice which is operative to obturate and open the outlet of the firststation.
 8. A system according to claim 7, the valve device comprising aconical or frusto-conical valve device.
 9. A system according to claim1, the apparatus comprising a plenum chamber which encloses the outletof the first station and the inlet of the second station duringtransfer.
 10. A system according to claim 1, the first and secondstations being substantially vertically arranged and the apparatus beingengaged round the outlet of the first station.
 11. A system according toclaim 10, the apparatus being slidably mounted with respect to the firststation.
 12. A system according to claim 11, the first and secondstations being mounted for respective reciprocable relative motion. 13.A system according to claim 12, there being means to raise and lower thesecond station with respect to the first station, or to raise and lowerthe first station with respect to the second.
 14. A system according toclaim 13, the means to raise and lower comprising a lifting table.
 15. Asystem for transferring flowable particulate material from one stationto another, comprising a first station having an outlet and a secondstation having an inlet, and apparatus for handling flow of the flowableparticulate material from the first station to the second station, saidapparatus comprising a chamber adapted for mounting in association withthe first station and having an orifice through which the second stationand the first station are operatively connectable for transfer ofmaterial, there being a device which in one position closes the orificeand which is operable to remove a closure element of the second stationand there being a device to extract material from the chamber, thearrangement being such that particulate material in the chamber isextracted therefrom by the extraction device so that the exterior of thestations remains, in use, free of the material, the second stationhaving a lid comprising a first closure element and a second closureelement, the apparatus being operable to remove and replace the firstclosure element for a transfer operation.
 16. A system according toclaim 15, the first and second closure elements of the second stationbeing operative to close a filling aperture of the second station, thesecond closure element being, in use, in the aperture.
 17. A systemaccording to claim 16, the second closure element being supported by aflexible and resilient annular seal member.
 18. A system according toclaim 16, comprising a device operative to raise and lower the secondclosure element of the second station.
 19. A system according to claim18, the raising and lowering device comprising a suction device.
 20. Asystem according to claim 19, the suction device being raisable andlowerable with a valve device which is operative to obturate and openthe outlet of the first station.
 21. A system according to claim 15, theapparatus comprising a plenum chamber which encloses the outlet of thefirst station and the inlet of the second station during transfer.